The highly anticipated Battle of Alberta is set to ignite Rogers Place tonight as the Calgary Flames face off against the Edmonton Oilers. This is the second meeting of the season between these provincial rivals, with the Flames having narrowly won the first encounter in a shootout on October 8.
Team Records and Recent Performance
The Edmonton Oilers come into the game with a record of 18-13-6, while the Calgary Flames hold a 15-17-4 record. Both teams have been demonstrating improved form recently, making this a compelling matchup. The Flames have gone 10-4-1 in their last 15 games, boosting their offensive output to an average of 3.40 goals per game. Meanwhile, the Oilers are aiming to capitalize on their home ice advantage after a recent 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Projected Lineups
Here's a look at the projected lineups for both teams:
Calgary Flames:
- Forwards: Joel Farabee — Nazem Kadri — Yegor Sharangovich; Jonathan Huberdeau — Morgan Frost — Matt Coronato; Connor Zary — Mikael Backlund — Blake Coleman; Ryan Lomberg — John Beecher — Adam Klapka
- Defense: Kevin Bahl — Rasmus Andersson; Yan Kuznetsov — Mackenzie Weegar; Joel Hanley — Hunter Brzustewicz
- Goalies: Dustin Wolf, Devin Cooley
- Scratches: Justin Kirkland, Brayden Pachal
- Injured: Jake Bean, Samuel Honzek, Zayne Parekh, Martin Pospisil
Edmonton Oilers:
- Forwards: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — Connor McDavid — Zach Hyman; Vasily Podkolzin — Leon Draisaitl — Jack Roslovic; Andrew Mangiapane — Adam Henrique — Matthew Savoie; Max Jones — Trent Frederic — Mattias Janmark
- Defense: Mattias Ekholm — Evan Bouchard; Darnell Nurse — Alec Regula; Spencer Stastney — Ty Emberson
- Goalies: Connor Ingram, Calvin Pickard
- Scratches: Curtis Lazar, Riley Stillman, David Tomasek
- Injured: Connor Clattenburg, Tristan Jarry, Kasperi Kapanen, Noah Philp, Jake Walman
Players to Watch
- Connor McDavid (Oilers): McDavid is currently on a 10-game point streak, amassing 12 goals and 14 assists. His outstanding performance has placed him ahead of Nathan MacKinnon in the NHL scoring lead, with 23 goals and 39 assists.
- Mikael Backlund (Flames): Backlund has been a key player for the Flames, scoring four goals in his last two games. His leadership and offensive contributions will be crucial for Calgary.
- Dustin Wolf (Flames): Expected to start in goal, Wolf has a .896 save percentage in 27 appearances this season.
Storylines to Follow
- Goaltending Matchup: With Tristan Jarry injured, Connor Ingram is set to start in goal for the Oilers. Ingram will be looking to build on his solid season debut against the Vegas Golden Knights.
- Special Teams Battle: The Oilers boast a potent power-play unit, while the Flames have demonstrated strong penalty-killing efficiency. The special teams battle could be a deciding factor in the game.
- Battle of Alberta Intensity: These games are always highly contested, with a lot of energy. Expect a physical and intense battle as both teams vie for a crucial win before the Christmas break.
The game is scheduled to start at 9:00 PM EST and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
